Friday, February 21, 2014

What exactly is the FVRCP Vaccine? - Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia

What exactly is the Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia (FVRCP) vaccine?

Cat owners bring their cats to the
veterinarian regularly for vaccinations.We divide vaccinations into “core” and “non-core”.Core vaccines are those that EVERY cat should
receive.Non-core vaccines are given to
cats based on that cat’s particular lifestyle.

Not surprisingly, the vaccine most
petowners are familiar with is the
rabies vaccine, as it is required by law in most jurisdictions. Obviously, it’s
a “core” vaccine.The other core vaccine
for cats is the FVRCP vaccine.But do
most cat owners really know what the letters in FVRCP really stand for, and
what the vaccine really protects against?If not, read on…

Herpesvirus

The “FVR” in the FVRCP stands for
feline viral rhinotracheitis. Rhinotracheitis means infection of the nose and
trachea.We call it “viral
rhinotracheitis” because the virus responsible is the feline herpesvirus.Feline herpesvirus (FHV) is a major cause of
upper respiratory disease in cats. FHV is very contagious between cats.Most cats become exposed to FHV at some time
in their lives, and the majority of exposed cats become infected.Cats typically develop a mild upper
respiratory infection – sneezing, conjunctivitis (“pink eye”), runny eyes,
nasal discharge – which often resolves on its own. In some cats, the virus
induces severe upper respiratory disease, and a few of these cats may develop
persistent upper respiratory symptoms for years.The herpes virus can also cause a variety of
eye disorders, and may cause skin disease as well.Cats of all ages are susceptible, however,
kittens appear to be affected more severely than adults. A presumptive
diagnosis is made based on evaluation of the cat’s history and clinical signs.

After a cat recovers from the
initial infection, the virus remains in the body as a latent infection.The dormant virus can be reactivated
duringtimes of stress, crowding and
concurrentillness, resulting in a
recurrenceof clinical signs. During these
recurrences, infected cats shed the virus profusely in their eye, nasal, and
oral secretions, increasing the risk of infecting other cats.Although there are antiviral drugs that can
be administered to cats showing symptoms of herpesvirus, there are currently no
drugs that eliminate FHV from the body.A
very new drug, polyprenyl immunostimulant, is just about to be marketed as a
treatment for feline herpesvirus.

Calicivirus

The “C” in the FVRCP vaccine stands
for calicivirus. The feline calici virus (FCV) is an important cause of upper
respiratory and oral disease in cats. Respiratory signs caused by calicivirus
(sneezing, ocular discharge, nasal discharge) tend to be milder than those
caused by the herpes virus, however, calici virus may cause ulcers on the
tongue of cats and kittens. The virus is
mainly transmitted by direct cat-to-cat contact, however, indirect transmission
via contamination of the environment or through contaminated objects is also
possible. Acutely infected cats will
shed the virus in oral, ocular, and nasal secretions for two or three weeks,
although some cats become chronic carriers, and will shed the virus
persistently for months or even years. Cats of any age are susceptible,
although kittens are most susceptible. Cats housed in groups, such as in
boarding catteries, shelters, and breeding colonies, are at increased risk for
contracting FCV.A more serious, systemic form of
calici virus infection caused by a very virulent strain of calicvirus (VS-FCV)
has been reported in recent years.
Disease caused by VS-FCV tends to be more severe and may be fatal. A
vaccine against VS-FCV, the more virulent strain of calicivirus, was introduced
to the market in 2007.

Panleukopenia

Finally, the “P” in the FVRCP
stands for panleukopenia. (That’s a big
word, I know. It’s easy to say, though, if you break it down phonetically: “pan-luke-oh-PEE-nee-uh”. Panleukopenia is a highly contagious viral
disease caused by the feline panleukopenia virus (FPV). Cats infected with the virus often show signs
of lethargy, poor appetite, fever, vomiting, and severe diarrhea. The word panleukopenia means “a decrease in
white blood cells”, and that is what is seen on the bloodwork of affected cats.
In young cats, the disease is often fatal.
Queens, if infected during pregnancy,
may give birth to kittens with a condition called cerebellar hypoplasia, a
neurologic disorder that causes severe incoordination. The virus is spread mainly through contact
with feces, however, the virus is very stable in the environment and can be
spread via contaminated food bowls, water bowls, litter boxes, and health care
workers. Treatment consists mainly of
supportive care – hospitalization, fluid therapy, antibiotics, and nutritional
support. With aggressive care, some cats survive the infection, however, most young
kittens succumb to the virus.You can see from the description above
just how important the FVRCP vaccine is.
Immunity to this vaccine lasts at least three years, so it does not need
to be given annually.

Dr. Arnold Plotnick (MS, DVM, ACVIM) blogs about professional and personal life experiences as an expert in the field of feline veterinary medicine.

Dr. Arnold Plotnick is a board-certified veterinary internist, feline expert, and the founder of Manhattan Cat Specialists. In addition to his medical work, he is an award-winning veterinary medicine writer.